Miracle Welsh Championships 2024 at Shotwick Lake Sailing

Start of last race - Miracle Welsh Championships at Shotwick © Geoff Weir

Nine Miracles entered the Welsh Area Championships hosted at Shotwick Lake Sailing Club on the 21st and 22nd September. It was great to welcome back three visiting boats, who made a weekend of it. Shotwick is fast becoming the place to experience good fleet Miracle racing, with new members and experienced singlehanded helms looking to buy Miracles to join in the fun.

Two races were held on Saturday afternoon in a pleasant NE breeze with predominately warm, sometimes sunny conditions. Conrad was officer in charge for the weekend and set an excellent course for Saturdays races. The first windward leg used the length of the lake, which tested all the competitors, with lots of close sailing. Dave and Zara Turtle looked happy to be back in Shotwick, sailing out of any danger to reach the windward mark first. The purple smiley faced spinnaker was raised and they held their lead comfortably for the whole race.

Wayne and Angela were in hot pursuit and although they easily kept ahead of the fleet they couldn't close the gap. The rest of the fleet enjoyed very close racing with positions between Mark and Paul, Simon and Julie, Dave and Shan and Jim and Jeanette changing frequently. Jim and Jeanette, new to Miracle sailing managed to keep up with the others despite not using a spinnaker. Mark and Paul, sailing Elmo the oldest boat in the race took third position.

The wind was dropping for the final race of the day, but once again it was a clean start for Dave and Zara who led the race from start to finish, an elegant masterclass in Miracle sailing from the father and daughter duo. However, this time the rest of the fleet were bunched at the windward mark, close on the heels of Wayne and Angela, but their expertise with the black spinnaker ensured they kept their second place.

The rest of the fleet were much closer with 9 seconds separating fourth to sixth places. It was good to see Liverpool Uni students, Bea and Joe improving on last years performance, swapping places with Geoff and Sara, and father and daughter combo, Neil and Ffion during the race.

Sunday morning saw darker skies, the wind had picked up and veered to an ENE direction. Conrad set a course with another long beat to start it was a perfect start for Mark and Paul, second around the windward mark behind Dave and Zara. The gap between the first three boats was much less this race, with Wayne and Angela eventually taking another second place.

Dave and Shan suffered gear failure in It's a.............broken and had to retire. Geoff and Sara sailed well to gain a fifth position.

For the last race before lunch, the dark skies delivered their much-anticipated down pour as the complete fleet took to the start. The start was clean with nothing much separating the whole fleet; at the windward mark, Mark and Paul rounded first closely followed by Dave and Zara who quickly manoeuvred into their customary first place.

Racing between the rest of the fleet was tight with positions changing and the home sailors getting closer to the gold standard crews. Mark and Paul held onto second with a battle between Wayne and Angela and Simon and Julie for third place. Rounding the final buoy Simon and Julie held their course, Wayne and Angela tacked for the line and crossed it one second behind.

After a well-deserved lunch in the dry clubhouse, the rain stopped, and the Welsh Area final race began.

It was Jim and Jeanette who cleared the line first. The wind was getting shiftier as the fleet kept in close contact, with Mark and Paul rounding the windward buoy in first position, followed by Wayne and Angela then Dave and Zara. This time tactical manoeuvres between second and third placed boats allowed Elmo to lead the fleet although a spinnaker malfunction on the second lap meant that they had no spinnaker on the third lap and the experts were closing in fast.

Paul managed to rectify the situation, and the spinnaker flew once again on the final leg as they sailed to victory with Dave and Zara taking second over Wayne and Angela in third. An exciting end to a memorable weekend.

Top three teams - Miracle Welsh Championships at Shotwick - photo © Geoff Weir

The prize-giving was held in the clubhouse, Josie, Shotwick Miracle organiser, thanked the Race Officers and safety crew along with all those who made the weekend a success.

Dave and Zara were the overall winners of the Welsh Area Championship, retaining their title. In second place with 6 points and winning the final race were the Shotwick crew of Mark and Paul. Third also with 6 points were visitors Wayne and Angela. Thanks to all the competitors who made this weekend special.

Overall Results:

Dave and Zara Turtle win (again) - Miracle Welsh Championships at Shotwick - photo © Geoff Weir